Review: ARV-3 by Cameo Renae

ARV-3 by Cameo Renae
Series: The After Light Saga, #1
Published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing on 2013-11-24
Length: 370 pages
Reviewing eBook from My Book Shelf
Rating:

The beginning of the end. The Apocalypse.

A nuclear fallout wiped out every living thing on the planet, except for a few thousand of us who took shelter in underground bunkers across the globe. Now, after thirteen long years, we were finally able to return to the topside to begin to rebuild.

We thought we were alone. We were never more wrong.

Before the fallout, scientists had worked on creating an anti-radiation vaccine (ARV). The first two attempts failed, but despite the incomplete tests and results, the government approved and distributed the third serum to the masses in an effort to aid those who had no shelter.

It worked, keeping those who remained on the topside alive, but it also altered and mutated them. This new and infectious threat had completely outnumbered us. Now, we not only had to rebuild our planet. We would have to fight for it.

My name is Abigail Park. I’m seventeen, and this is my story.

ARV-3 by Cameo Renae is the book I’ve been waiting for!!! You guys know me. You know I love dystopians but friends this book is SO MUCH MORE!!! ARV-3 starts with an apocalyptic event, decimating the planet, and supposedly killing just about everyone that didn’t go in a bunker. Flash forward 13 years and the people who went underground are ready to come out, but there’s a surprise waiting for them, something they aren’t prepared for….arvies, zombie-like humanoids who survived the nuclear fallout. The story follows Abigail Park and those from her hive as they travel the barren wastelands to a “safe zone” and what their lives are now like. It’s amazing!!!

Abigail, Abi for short, was 4 when she went underground with her family and 5 other families. At 17 she dreams of feeling the sun on her skin and the smell of a fresh breeze. But she isn’t delusional. She knows that life isn’t a dream and what they are facing above ground will test everything she is. I like Abi! She’s loyal, strong-willed, determined, and independent. At 17 she is ready for whatever life throws her way.

Finn *sigh* and his mother Anya were last minute additions to Abi’s hive before they went underground and Abi can’t imagine life without him. He’s her best friend, confidante, and someone she knows will always have her back. I personally love him! He’s gorgeous…at least in my mind he is. He’s kind, faithful to Abi and the hive, and will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And oh my does he add some swoon-worthy moments to Abi’s life 😀

The plot of this book really sets up the series BUT that doesn’t make it any less of a great read! Abi and her family have been underground for 13 years. The fifteen people have had little contact with the outside world and other hives. For 13 years, these people have becoming a family and work like a well-oiled machine. The entire story is told from Abi’s POV and you see the cohesive unit the hive has become and the love they have for one another. My heart broke for them when they went topside. Abi’s fear for each of them bled off the pages! As the hive travels to one of the government bunkers, they see things that no one should ever see. The world as they knew it is gone and there is no recovering from that. Yet they have faith that they can. Character-driven and fast-paced suspense drives the plot and I had a really hard time sitting the book down for any length of time.

Overall I loved this book! It gave me horrific nightmares but I loved it 😀 Oxymoron I know but it’s true! I think the reason I loved this book so much though is the world-building. Cameo Renae has created an amazing post-apocalyptic world which forces the characters to adapt and survive. If you enjoy dystopians as much as I do, I highly recommend you grab a copy of this book (preferably in the morning) and set aside several hours to binge read! You won’t be disappointed, I promise!

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